"Celebrity Reporter Turned Inspirational Author"

Travels from:  Phoenix, AZ

CELEBRITY REPORTER TURNED INSPIRATIONAL AUTHOR, CATHOLIC SUN COLUMNIST, and SPEAKER CHRIS BENGUHE has been kicked out of more places than most people ever get into and lived the life that most of us dream about as a tabloid journalist up to his scruples in the glitz and grime, the glamour and greed of Tinseltown. Then he gave it all up when the Columbine tragedy struck to make the world a better place with his words AND his actions.

Benguhe taps into his rich tapestry of amazing experiences as a high profile reporter turned author as well as his poignant personal reflections, some funny, some dramatic, to entertain, to educate and finally to inspire listeners to find purpose and comfort in tough times.

Through humor, honesty and thrilling anecdotes Benguhe invites listeners to realize in an increasingly demanding and confusing world, our problems, imperfections and failures are a chance for us to reach out to others to love and respect, and to be loved and respected in return. Ultimately then we will realize that it is only within life’s struggles, within fighting the good fight, not in the meaningless pursuit of comfort and luxury, that we find our true purpose, our real value and our greatest joy.

Chris Benguhe’s latest book, Overcoming Life’s 7 Common Tragedies: Opportunities for Discovering God offers a practical everyday faithful philosophy on how to apply the “positive potential” of problems to the seven most common catastrophic life situations through revealing personal reflections plus compelling anecdotes of everyday people who found joy through enduring life’s greatest tragedies.

Former PEOPLE MAGAZINE writer and tabloid editor, Chris Benguhe interviewed everyone from the famous to the felonious.  From the OJ Simpson case to chasing Jon Benet’s Killer and the heartbreaking tales of Princess Diana’s accidental death and the Columbine massacre, he told the world’s most provocative stories, but he gave up the world of glitz and glamour to make a difference with his words.

“It’s not about whether the glass is half full or half empty – it’s about the value of the glass. The glass of our lives is still valuable even when we believe it is completely empty.” CHRIS BENGUHE

ONE MORE DAY ALIVE! OVERCOMING LIFE’S 7 COMMON TRAGEDIES: Opportunities for Discovering God … and THE POINT OF YOUR LIFE!

KEYNOTE: General Inspirational Message

The worst of times are windows to the best – because tragedies lead us to others and to a greater understanding of our values and our purpose when times our tough.

Now more than ever before, we face tough personal trials and tribulations every day – at work, at home, at school, in our families and in our communities. How do we persevere?

Tragedies won't stop happening, and problems will always be a part of life. But what if our happiness is buried deep within the experiences of our ordeals themselves? Because our lives are valuable – just like the glass- even when we believe we have lost everything.

Chris Benguhe uses his exciting high-profile background as a tabloid reporter and former PEOPLE Magazine writer turned internationally published inspirational author and Catholic columnist plus his compelling stories of those who have been through the worst to find the best to teach and inspire others. Finally he compels the audience to realize the secret to success is not ridding our life of problems but learning to respond to tough times by faithfully loving and respecting ourselves and others while enduring those hardships.

OTHER PROGRAMS AND WORKSHOPS

SICK AND TIRED – LITERALLY: WELLNESS PROGRAM

For those struggling with illness

When serious short-term or chronic long term illness strikes it often reduces us to a shadow of our former selves physically, mentally, spiritually and emotionally with ramifications that extend into every single facet of our lives. But the weakness, dependence and fragility of illness, and the clarity that comes from being taken out of the game, can lead to greater activation of our purpose and to a greater appreciation of our value as human beings.

This talk will use anecdotes, exercises and perspective changers to help individuals and families realize the beauty and value of their vulnerability and all the struggles that are attached to illness. Attendees will be prompted to see illness as a human experience with a real human value – to connect them more to others. Recognizing it is ok for us not to be ok all the time makes us more accepting of others, as well as of ourselves and of our abilities when less than perfect. That realization transforms us from needy to privileged, and activates our desire and ability to respond dynamically to the world around us in compromised situations.

OVERCOMING ILLNESS : ONE MORE DAY ALIVE: STAFF REJUVENATOR

WELLNESS PROGRAM FOR HOSPITAL CHAPLAINS AND/OR HEALTHCARE WORKERS

For helping others to cope with illness

While bringing the book’s central message to staff (that tough times lead us to others and to a greater understanding of our values and our purpose) this talk will use anecdotes, exercises and strategies to promote a greater understanding of the innate value of life, of people and their illness experience.

Ultimately Benguhe will inspire staff to appreciate, learn and apply those strategies in meaningful, respectful and effective manors, bolstering the ability to inspire and comfort patients and their families as they face the challenge and opportunity of illness.  Additionally, chaplains and healthcare workers will learn to appreciate their own value and importance in the world and the lives of those challenged by illness.

GOOD GRIEF – ONE MORE DAY ALIVE: GRIEF MANAGEMENT PROGRAM

For those dealing with the death of loved ones

The death of loved ones can send our lives into a spiral of despair, making us wonder what the point of continuing without them is. But in death, those we love rise in meaning and influence, and so to can our spirits in their memory.

While bringing the book’s general message to survivors (that tough times lead us to others and to a greater understanding of our values and our purpose), this talk will use anecdotes, exercises and perspective changers to help survivors realize the beauty and even the value derived from the pain, struggle and transformation brought about by the death of a loved one. Their life and death can be a call to action for us, a wake up call, and an opportunity to receive the love and support of our immediate and extended communities in ways we never imagined and never experienced before. Honesty, interactive anecdotal interchange, and even humor will help survivors to see the crucial worth of each other and of our lives after we lose a loved one.

WHAT’S THE POINT – OF YOUR LIFE?

Education program for high school/college students and educators

A program aimed at reinvigorating educators and inspiring students and their families to realize the meaning and value of their lives.

Is the point of our lives to fit into some socially agreed upon mold that wins us the approval and acceptance of society?  Is it to fulfill some worldly version of valuable, or to simply accrue worldly gain? Is it to be perfect? Or does each of have an innate value that is irrevocable and divine?

In an increasingly demanding and confusing world, it is important to realize that our problems, imperfections and failures don’t make us less worthy but are a chance for us to reach out to others to love and respect and to be loved and respected in return. And ultimately to realize that it is within life’s struggles that we find our true purpose, our real value and our greatest joy.

BUSTED? FIND A NEW MISSION

For those dealing with job loss or money problems

In an increasingly demanding, confusing world and failing economic environment, where a mainstream culture of success preaches it’s all about the bottom line, the innate value of work, social responsibility and human dignity becomes muddled, if not completely lost. 

We must realize our value and our worth is not only a relative result of economic viability or human marketability but instead is an innate asset that can enable and create behaviors that will lead to long-term and stable success.

These talks will use anecdotes, exercises and perspective changers to help attendees realize the beauty and the value of their lives (even of their imperfection and struggle) and ultimately a purpose for being and prospering in society. This new perspective will enable and inspire them to act in a contributive manner, reaching out to others to love and respect and to be loved and respected as an integral part of the human community.

LOVE LESSONS

For those suffering the effects of failed relationships or loneliness

Desperation is a deadly disease that breaks the heart and kills the spirit, especially when it strikes the centers of our hearts. Whether it’s a life altering, messy divorce, a bad breakup, or simply the pain of loneliness that sends so many of us spiraling into desperation, it is a dangerous place to be.  But it is in that very place, while temporarily free of the obligations and complications of romantic love, where we are more likely than at any other time in our lives to realize the noble and earnest meaning of love and life – to manifest the honest love of others, of ourselves and of our role in society.

This talk will use anecdotes, exercises and perspective changers to help love’s languished victims realize lessons learned, esteem found and a new strategy for lighting the lamp of love by letting our own light shine, and loving the world around us instead of looking for love in all the wrong places.

HOOKED – WHAT’S THE POINT OF YOUR LIFE

Rehab and addictions program

Addictions, bad choices and life’s dead ends sap our energy and send us to rock bottom convincing us our lives our over. But what if that is only our built in gyroscope telling us that it is time for THAT life to be over? What seems like a state of desperation is actually an important chapter in the arc of our lives and is an important part of our unique story which can lead us to new life, new ideas and new opportunities if we realize and focus on our relationships with family, friends and the community, rather than on our own self-hatred or self-satisfaction.

This talk will use anecdotes, exercises and perspective changers to help those who feel like they are at the end of their rope because of destructive behaviors or fatalistic attitudes and mindsets to realize their worth and their special ability capitalize on second chances, the satisfaction of renewal, and the potential power of conciliation with loved ones to enable and empower us to encourage and inspire others by reaching out for their help.

DOH!  HOMER SIMPSON WAS A GOOD FAMILY MAN?

For struggling families and family support workers

This talk focuses on family dynamics - perception, interaction, reactions, and responses to familial idiosyncratic struggles.

This talk will use anecdotes, exercises and perspective changers to help each family member realize EVERY family has issues, struggles and disturbances that should not be a source of shame, anger or weakness.

Instead every family can realize the beauty and value derived from their pain, struggle and obstacles to find pride, strength, meaning and stability in their lives. After transforming the perception of their families, of the “model” family, and of the overall point and purpose of family, participants will be challenged to demonstrate how their particular family situation has and will help them form adaptive life strategies that no other family could have prepared them for more perfectly and then to derive a sense of mission, purpose and power from their roots.

MEN’S PROGRAM

FINDING YOUR FIGHT! WHAT’S YOUR MISSION?

(WHY BRAD PITT’S GOT NOTHING ON YOU!)

QUICK OVERVIEW: While bringing the book’s central message to men (that tough times lead us to others and to a greater understanding of our values and our purpose- see packet) this talk will use anecdotes, exercises and strategies to promote a greater understanding of the “mission formula” that is programmed into a man’s DNA to inspire them personally and professionally.

Benguhe’s background as a PEOPLE Magazine reporter living the life every man dreams of in Hollywood before giving it all up to lead the life God intended for him is the backdrop guaranteed to keep men interested.

Now more than ever, Americans are challenged by a lagging economy, rising foreclosures, layoffs and plunging stock markets. We face tough personal economic trials and tribulations every day – at work, at home, in our families and in our communities.

Such times are an especially great challenge to men because we, much more than women, define ourselves and our sense of self-worth by our earning potential, our social status and our occupational power. As those diminish or are threatened, so is our sense of value and worth in society, in our families and in our hearts.

But by shifting your perception of self value from one based solely on what you earn and what you do, to HOW you earn and WHY you do what you do can bring you to an extraordinary realization of personal worth based on your contribution to society, to your community, your family and finally to God. Ultimately that is what will lead you to your “mission.” The strength that comes from knowing what that mission is will reinvigorate your self esteem and catapult your perceived personal power for all the right reasons.

The result will be a greater confidence, ability and calm that will translate into a transformational view of the world, and a transformed view of how much value you have to that world.

AIM:

1. Help men perceive and utilize their God-given desire to lead in order to realize a greater sense of purpose, mission and success in today’s world.

2. Highlight men’s efforts and accomplishments over the last year as a great “qualitative” success, both in their own lives and those they change.

3. Enlighten men with a new perspective on personal relationships – that tough times lead us to others, to God and to a greater sense of purpose and value to others – and that our relationships our directly related to our mission in life.

1 Hour Talk

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